Interview with an Elite Athlete (Part 3)

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This is the third and final piece of the interview with tri-athlete Hernan Rubiano.

JO: What or who motivates you to continue to be an elite athlete?

HR: At this point in my career, it's a personal challenge to know that I can reach places I didn't think were possible. If one intends to achieve, one can do it. And my motivation has changed over time - it was more a game for me at the beginning. I used to do my training almost "unconsciously". Now, I challenge myself daily to do my best.

JO: Where or who do you look to for inspiration?

HR: I'm inspired by seeing other athletes win, world champions like Alistair Brownlee. And I look to competitions and the fact that I now know that it is possible for me to win. The sensation of being a winner is awesome! When I win, I forget all the difficulties that I went through to get to the podium.

JO: What was (were) the factor(s) that allowed you to become a sponsored, elite-level, athlete?

HR: I think it was the combination of my dreaming or visualizing that I can reach the elite level in the sport and capitalism. I started winning and that caught the attention of potential sponsors. Professional athletes become consumable products, though. Once performance decreases, or the results are not what is expected, sponsorship goes away. I try not to think about that fact to stay motivated.

JO: How does it feel to make a living from a sport?

HR: It is very gratifying, especially because an elite athlete has a high quality of life. The basic needs are met at an optimal level (housing, food, plenty of rest). And there's a daily discipline and focus on doing one thing, and doing it right. The difficult part is to strike a balance between the self-confidence one needs and letting the ego take over when winning competitively.

JO: What is your mental training like?

HR: I have to be focused all day. It involves a high level of abstraction because I have to use both my mind and body. One of my mental exercises is to try to isolate specific times while competing. I record and internalize those moments, replay them mentally, and improve on them. I also meditate to clear the mind, though not frequently enough. A strong mind is critical during those times I simply want to quit in the middle of a hard training session.

JO: Do you have any advice for anyone thinking about doing triathlon?

HR: My advice is to take it easy. I know several people that were new to the sport, started with a lot of energy, and spent a fortune on equipment; six months later, they got fed up with it and quit. Triathlon is rewarding, but requires all of your energy.

Race of Faith appreciates Hernan's time and candidness in sharing his experiences and thoughts for publication in this blog. Whether Hernan wears a red cape, runs with his cycling helmet on, or refuses to shower the day he's competing, we think of him as one of our super heroes.

[Part 1] [Part 2]

Jairo Ospina